Photos: Railway watchman in Tabriz, Iran
The Railway watchman, with a large wrench in hand, walk the rails between stations scanning the railway nuts with their watchful eyes. If they find any problem areas, they're the ones who will have to warn the locomotive's operators. -Photos by Ali Hamed Haghdoust - 2/8/10
Photos: Pir Shahriar Ceremony in Oramanat Takht Village, Iran
Pir Shahriar (or Pir Shaliar) is one of the oldest ceremonies which is still celebrated twice a year in the village of Oramanat Takht in Iran's Kurdestan province. According to some historians, the origin of this event goes back to a 1000 years ago. Others believe the tradition is much older than that. -Photos by Nima Dimari - 2/7/10
Banned thought-provoking Iranian films come to Tehran's black market
Official restrictions on screening films have added a new category to Tehran's black market, once the exclusive domain of porno flicks, home video footage and bootleg copies of onscreen Iranian and foreign films. -MNA - 2/6/10
Iranian official's remarks on hijab outrage top cleric
According to some unofficial sources, Shamaqdari questioned the necessity of the Hijab in his response to a person criticizing the alleged difficulty of wearing the hijab by Iranian and foreign guests of the 28th Fajr International Film Festival. -MNA - 2/5/10
Persian-Language TV Station To Debut In Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan
Tajik Culture Minister Mirzoshohrukh Asrori told RFE/RL that the joint station's first program will be aired during celebrations of the ancient Norouz holiday on March 21-23 that marks the first day of spring. He said the programs aired by the station will focus mainly on cultural issues. - 2/5/10
Iran's Secret Obsession: Getting Lost in Tehran
Back before protests erupted last June, if you were to see a crowd gathered on the street in Tehran, odds were they were buying up the latest U.S. hit movie or TV show from a black market vendor. Customers flip through piles of plastic sleeves, looking for an unseen classic or the latest that the Americans have to offer -TIME - 2/4/10
My Visit to Iran
I went to Iran, the country of my birth, in November of 2009 and stayed there for two months after being away for 30 years. I had left Iran right before 1979 revolution that overthrew the Shah. Before I left for my visit back to Iran, I was feeling very agitated and depressed about the way things are here in the USA and I felt like I needed to get away for a while. -Azita Ebrahimi - 2/3/10
Photos: Iranians Celebrate "Sadeh" Ancient Persian Fire Fest
Thousands of Iranians gathered at dusk against a snowy mountain backdrop to light giant bonfires in an ancient mid-winter festival dating back to Iran's pre-Islamic past that is drawing new interest from Muslims. - 1/31/10
Photos: Jask Villagers Have a Dream --- Water
Many villages in the vicinity of the Iranian port city of Jask still lack safe drinking water. Two tankers deliver water to 60 villages is the area every two months. When the village children see water, they think they've reached heaven... -Photos by Abdolhossein Rezvani - 1/31/10
Author: Iranians aren't all like their leaders
Iran is not what you think it is. That was the message author Mahbod Seraji had for the more than 750 students and administrators who packed Villanova University's Connelly Center Tuesday night to hear excerpts from his book, "Rooftops of Tehran," this year's selection for the college's "One Book Villanova" program. -Times - 1/31/10
Strict Prohibition vs. High Demand Forces Iranians to Gamble Online
There are many nations around the world where gambling in some form or another is strictly prohibited by law, but the demand still runs high. One prime example of this situation can be found in contemporary Iran. Many attribute this activity to novelty. -Gaming Zion - 1/27/10
Vintage Fashion in Iran: Photographs from the first half of the twentieth century
There was a time, following the military coup of 1920 when women were forced not to wear Hijab. Here are a few photographs from the first half of the twentieth century, the rise of industrial era in Iran. - 1/20/10
Photos: Tent Living - Kahoum Village, Zahedan
The village of Kahoum is located by the hillside of Birak Mountain in the province of Sistan o Baluchestan in southeast Iran. About 40 families live in this village under primitive conditions in tents called kapar. The residents are deprived of schooling, healthcare and clean water. -Photos by Sadeqh Souri, Mehr News Agency - 1/18/10
Photos: Residents of Aredebil Townships Waiting For Pipelined Gas
The residents of the Mokhaberat and Dadgostari townships in the provincial city of Ardebil are still waiting for natural gas to be pipelined to their houses. In early 2008 the officials promised delivery of gas to the houses. But the cold winter has arrived without the promises being fulfilled. So the residents have to turn to traditional means to heat their homes and do their cooking. -Photos by Raouf Mohseni, MNA - 1/17/10
Iranian Dress Exhibition in Tehran
Iran's House of Fashion will be holding dress exhibitions in Tehran first weeks on January 28, 2009 and third week of February. In the main part of the exhibition, fusion and international designs, and creations of master dressmakers of the nation will be displayed. - 1/16/10
Photos: A horseshoer and his workshop in Tabriz
Following photos by Ali Hamed Haghdoust show a horseshoer working in his workshop in the city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran. The profession of horseshoeing is one of the traditional professions people are still engaged in at meidan kaah (Kaah square) in Tabriz. But as the times passes, fewer people are choosing this profession. - 1/10/10
Photos: School for Nomads in Ahvaz, Iran
Following photos show an elementary school, setup in tents and open space, to educate children of nomads living in the margins of city of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran. -Photos by Amin Nazari, ISNA - 1/8/10
Iran to play Singapore in Asian Cup without European stars
Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei will be absent against Singapore after La Liga side, Osasuna, didn't grant permission to them to leave Spain. Victory in the match will surely ease the pressure on Afshin Ghotbi's shoulders for not getting satisfying results in the Qatar tournament last week. -MNA - 1/5/10
Photos: Ashoura Mourning Ritual in Bijar, Iran
The following photos by Sina Shiri are from the Ashoura mourning ritual held on December 27 in the town of Bijar in Kurdestan Province of Iran located in the western part of the country . Bijar's estimated population as of 2006 is 46,156. With an elevation of 1883.4 meters, Bijar is called the Roof of Iran. - 12/28/09
Photos: Ashoura Mourning Ritual in Khusf, Birjand
The following photos by Amir Hossein Heydari are from the Ashoura mourning ritual held on December 27 in town of Khusf located west of provincial city of Birjand in South Khorasan province of Iran. As part of this ritual, the men raise their shovels in unison and call the names of the Shi'ite saints. - 12/28/09
Photos: Muharram Mourning in Kang Village, Mashhad
Kang village is located abotu 28 Kilometers west of the city of Mashhad. The architecture of Kang is close to that of the famous village of Masouleh in Iran's Gilan province; and hence Kang is known as the Masouleh of Khorasan. -Photos by Amin Khosroshahi, ISNA - 12/26/09
Photos: Muharram Mourning in Ziarat Village, Golestan Province of Iran
This village, which is a popular tourist destination, has a different culture and architecture compared to other villages in the province. Ziarat in Persian means pilgrimage. But it seems the name of the village has nothing to do with an Islamic shrine located in the village. Rather, based on ancient ruins and historic data, it seems this village has been one of the centers of worship for the Buddhists who would gather there from all over Asia. -Photos by Aboutaleb Nadri, MNA - 12/26/09
Photos: Muharram Mourning in Kerman, Iran
Photos presented here are from the Tasoua mourning ceremonies in the city of Kerman. Kerman is the center of Kerman province, one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Located in a large and flat plain, this city is located 1,076 km (669 mi) south of Tehran, capital of Iran. Kerman city had an estimated population of 533,799 in 2005. -Photos by Yaser Khadishi, ISNA - 12/26/09
Photos: Muharram Mourning in Zanjan, Iran
Photos presented here are from the Tasoua mourning ceremonies in the city of Zanjan located in the northwest Iran. Zanjan is the center of Zanjan province, one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Zanjan province with an area of 36,400 km² has a mostly rural, population of 1.7 million. -Photos by Youness Khani, MNA - 12/26/09
The Ashura Of My Younger Years
When I look back now on the Ashura of my youth, I would say that maybe the idea of losing yourself in a spirit of devotion or sacrifice for an ideology or religion was there in our culture and religion, but it was something private. It was not politicized or instrumentalized for the benefit of a political ideology, group, or individual. -Abbas Djavadi - 12/26/09
Photos: Shopping for Yalda - Iranians to mark the longest night
Iranians throughout the world will celebrate the longest night of the Iranian calendar year, Yalda, in a tradition welcoming the birthday of the Goddess of Love, Mitra. Yalda is the last night of autumn and the beginning of winter. -Raouf Mohseni, MNA - 12/20/09
Photos: Gavmish-Abad neighborhood in Ahvaz, Iran
Gavmish is Persian for buffalo. Gavmish-Abad is a neighborhood at the southeastern boundaries of the city of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran. The underprivileged people in this neighborhood, who are deprived of adequate welfare and health resources, earn their living by raising buffalos, cattle and horses. -Photos by Seyyed Ali Mousavinezhad - 12/17/09
Images of Tehran Before the Turmoil
"Tehran Without Permission," a documentary shot furtively on a cellphone in Iran's capital in 2008, appears to offer outsiders glimpses of the private lives of Iranians, which are not consumed entirely by politics, as news coverage of the public demonstrations for and against the government there since June's disputed presidential election might led some to believe. -NY Times - 12/17/09
Photos: Christmas Shopping in Tehran
Tehran's Christians residents have embarked on their shopping for the holiday season. While Iran is officially designated the "Islamic Republic," among its more than 66 million people is a small but important Christian minority. Most of Iran's Christians are Armenians and Assyrians, who remain relatively free to follow their faith. -Photos by Raouf Mohseni, MNA - 12/11/09
Exhibition in Shiraz by Five Iranian Photojournalists, with a focus on Social Issues
Five Iranian photojournalists are holding an exhibition at Shiraz gallery. The focus of the exhibition is social issues ranging from the June presidential elections, immigrants, survivors of the Iran-Iraq war, and women. - 12/3/09
Photos: Makhounik Village - The Legendary Lilliput of Iran
Village of Makhounik has been nicknamed as the Lilliput of Iran and the land of tiny people. This is due to short height and stature of the inhabitants of this village. Makhounik is located about 142 kilometers from the city of Birjand in Iran's South Khorasan province. The village is only 1/2 hour away from Afghanistan border. - 11/30/09
The Monument For The Disabled Unveiled In Tehran's Mellat Park
December 3, 2009 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In honor of this day, the first monument for the disabled has been installed in Mellat Park in Tehran. The monument was officially unveiled on November 29 in the presence of the designer Dariush Mokhtari, the officials of the Welfare organization, and several disabled people. - 11/30/09
Iranian Minister backs gender segregation in universities
Kamran Daneshjou, Iranian Minister of Science announced that "segregation of sexes" in the universities in accordance with "the Islamic worldview" will be put to practice in Iranian universities. - 11/28/09
Muslims In South Asia, Iran, Iraq Begin Eid al-Adha Festival
Hundreds of millions of Muslims in South Asia, Iran, and Iraq began celebrating Eid al-Adha today with large prayer services and ritual sacrifice of animals. The majority of Muslims in the Middle East and worldwide started the festival on November 27. - 11/28/09
Infidelity and remarriage main causes of divorce in Iran
Infidelity and remarriage is responsible for eight out of ten divorces in Iran, a cultural director of Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University said here on Monday. Zahra Kashaniha largely blamed "affairs and temporary or permanent remarriages" for the increase in the country's divorce rate over the past years. - 11/23/09
Photos: The Land of Love - Life of Nomads at Chaldoron
Following photos show the life of the nomads in Chaldoron, Northwestern Iran. Due to its mild climate and green grazing fields, every year Chaldoran is host to nomads and their animals. In 1514 the Ottoman forces of Selim the Grim devastatingly defeated Safavid Shah Ismail's formerly invincible Persian-Azari army at Chaldoran. Of 27,000 Iranian soldiers a phenomenal 26,000 died, cut down by Selim's newfangled secret weapon, the cannon. - 11/17/09
Photos: Mobile cultural programs on buses entertain Tehrani citizens
The Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality has launched a new project using buses in different districts of the city as a mobile means of presenting cultural programs to its citizens. - 11/14/09
Happy Children at Mexican Embassy in Tehran
Some months ago Cultural section of the Mexican Embassy in Tehran sent out an invitation to many of Tehran schools inviting their students to take part in 13th Children's drawing Contest" launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, primarily aimed at Mexicans children abroad, but also open to children around the world. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 11/13/09
The Bakhtiari Alphabet: Cima Sedigh's Educational Documentary
The educational documentary movie, The Bakhtiari Alphabet, closely follows the harmonic and sustainable journey of life as practiced daily by one of the still major migratory tribes in south/southwest Iran, the Bakhtiaris. The lifestyle of hunter-gatherer-herders, as practiced by our common human ancestry throughout most our history, is now practiced by a sporadic number of tribes in the world and as typified by the Bakhtiari and Qashqai tribes of Iran. -Davood N. Rahni - 11/12/09
Photos: Workers at Qazvin Bazaar
These photos by Sina Shiri are snapshots from the life of some of the people working at the Bazzar in Qazvin, Iran. The livelihood of these people is dependent on a small cart that they use to carry products around the Bazaar. - 11/9/09
The Enigma of Religion
The purpose of this article is to share some ideas which involve religion in our daily lives. Religion promises great things after life. It offers incentives to do honorable and good deeds. Is there life after death? -Mohammad Ala - 11/9/09
Sadi Afshar stresses need to teach the youth siah-bazi
The veteran Iranian performer of siah-bazi Sadi Afshar said that these traditional types of plays should be taught to the younger generation. Siah-bazi, a type of folk play featuring a blackfaced harlequin who stirs the audience to laughter with amusing improvisations, is very difficult to teach and perhaps only two artists per year learn this art form, he said. - 11/8/09
Interview: Iranian-American Author Discusses Islamic Dress
Iranian-American Azadeh Moaveni, is the author of the best-selling memoirs "Honeymoon in Tehran" and "Lipstick Jihad." She spoke to RFE/RL correspondent Kristin Deasy about Iran's strict Islamic dress code on one hand, and the banning of Islamic headscarves in Uzbekistan on the other. - 11/8/09
On the Iranian Diaspora
Iran is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. But what of the over three million Iranians outside Iran? -Sam Sasan Shoamanesh - 11/4/09
The Bakhtiari Alphabet, a documentary on nomadic life in Iran, to be screened at Sacred Heart University
Directed by Reza Ghadiani and Sacred Heart University Associate Professor Cima Sedigh, this film follows the Bakhtiari tribe, a nomadic community in Iran. It provides cultural insight and engaging issues related to the challenges of educating children in a nomadic community. - 11/2/09
Iran's Poor Face a Logjam in the Labyrinths of Work
When you get lost in the commotion of the city, it is only the workers who can show you extreme pain and expose you to the unsavory smell of life. Believe me, this is true. Given the current Iranian economy, being a worker is very difficult. It permanently exposes you to the bitter taste of life. -ILNA - 11/2/09
A Culture of Death
"Innocence is to be presumed, and no one is to be held guilty of a charge unless his or her guilt has been established by a competent court." -- Article 37, chapter III of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran -By Fariba Amini - 10/28/09
Where's The Best Place To Live? Prosperity Index Offers A Few Surprises
What's your idea of the best place in which to live? Many people would probably answer that palm trees and a gleaming beach would be a good start to their idea of earthly paradise. But in real life, the country which scores best on a whole range of economic and quality-of-life issues is a good deal colder. -Breffni O'Rourke - 10/27/09
Photos: The Underprivileged in Shahr-e Rey, Iran
Shahr-e Rey is the oldest existing city in the province of Tehran, Iran. The city is estimated to be more than five thousand years old, and was built during the Median Empire. It was known in Classical times as Rhagae. Ray is richer than many other ancient cities in the number of its historical monuments -Photos by Arash Khamooshi, ISNA - 10/26/09
Photos: Exercising in the Park, Tehran
Following people show the health conscious residents of Tehran, Iran's capital city, engaging in various exercises in a park. - 10/21/09
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